SERVICES

At Hopedale Cardiovascular Associates our focus is to provide compassionate care to our patients and their families in a community setting, while utilizing the latest technology in diagnostic testing and treatment strategies. Our team of board-certified cardiologists provide specialized cardiovascular services for a full spectrum of cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, valve disorders, congenital heart disease, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, aortic disease and aneurysms, and pacemaker/defibrillators. In addition to treatment, our practice offers preventive care and multiple diagnostic testing right within our office. Our cardiologists have close relationships with the primary care physicians in the community, amongst other specialists, and hospital staff both at Milford Regional Medical Center and tertiary care centers in Boston and Worcester, all with the main goal of providing personalized, comprehensive cardiac care in the greater Milford, Blackstone Valley and Tricounty areas.

TEST & TREATMENTS

CLINICS

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY (ECHO)

An echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce images of your heart. This test allows your doctor to see how your heart is beating and pumping blood.

ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test in which electrodes on the chest are used to monitor and record the electrical activity of the heart.

EXERCISE STRESS TEST (ETT)

An exercise stress test, sometimes called a treadmill test, helps your doctor find out how well your heart functions while exercising. As your body works harder during the test, it requires more oxygen, so the heart must pump more blood. The test can show if the blood supply to the heart is adequate or if there is decreased blood flow, like seen with a blocked artery. This test can be done on its own or with additional imaging.

Exercise Stress Echocardiogram: Before and after the treadmill test, echocardiogram pictures are taken to allow your doctors to compare the motion of the heart at during exercise to the heart at rest.

Nuclear stress test: During the treadmill test you are given a radioactive picture material that allows for evaluation of blood flow into the heart muscle. Similar pictures at rest may be done that day or on a different day.

Stress tests are a noninvasive test used to evaluate the flow of blood to your heart muscle. The test can identify areas of the heart muscle that are not receiving enough blood, as well as the areas of heart muscle that are scarred from a previous heart attack.

PHARMACOLOGIC (LEXISCAN) NUCLEAR STRESS TEST

Lexiscan is a prescription medication that increases blood flow in the coronary arteries. It is commonly used in a cardiac nuclear stress test. During the test, a special camera takes pictures of the heart, giving your doctor detailed information about blood flow into your heart.

AMBULATORY RHYTHM MONITORING

24-hour holter monitors are battery-operated ECG devices, which monitor and record the heart’s electrical activity for 24 hours.

Event monitors and a variety of patch monitors are ECG devices which monitor and record the heart’s electrical activity for up to 30 days.

IMPLANTABLE REVEAL LINQ MONITOR

This is an implanted device that allows for longer term monitoring of electrical rhythms in the heart. The Reveal LINQ System includes a tiny insertable monitor placed just under the skin and the MyCareLink™ Patient Monitor — a bedside unit that collects heart rhythm data from the ICM and sends it to your doctor.

CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION

This is an invasive procedure that begins by the physician placing a small, flexible tube (catheter) in the artery of the arm or leg. Then, contrast dye is injected into the coronary arteries to identify any potential blockages. It also allows for an evaluation of the heart’s pumping function and can identify other conditions, such as congestive heart failure by measuring pressures within the heart.

An abdominal duplex ultrasound is used to detect abnormalities in the abdominal aorta. Your doctor may recommend this test if you have undergone procedures to repair an aneurysm.

ANKLE BRACHIAL INDEX

This test is used to detect reduced blood flow to muscles and tissues in the leg. This test is done with a treadmill to evaluate ankle-level blood pressure in order to detect peripheral artery disease in patients with leg pain.

Also known as carotid artery ultrasound, this procedure can detect carotid artery disease, including blood clots, plaque buildup or other blood flow problems. If problems are identified early, our vascular specialists can provide treatment to help prevent stroke.

Hopedale Cardiovascular Associates has a full-time clinic focused solely on managing patients who require anticoagulation with warfarin for conditions such as atrial fibrillation and valvular heart disease. We are also available to help provide guidance and instruction to patients if it becomes necessary to temporarily discontinue anticoagulation for surgical or dental procedures.

PACEMAKER/DEFIBRILLATOR

Hopedale Cardiovascular Associates has a full-time clinic dedicated to monitoring patients with pacemakers and defibrillators, including biventricular devices. Patients followed in our clinic have their devices checked routinely over the phone and periodically in our office.